Despite score, Mississippi a finalist in biolab
From: cjonline.com
"The Homeland Security Department swept aside evaluations of government experts and named Mississippi - home to powerful U.S. lawmakers with sway over the agency - as a top location for a new $451 million, national laboratory to study some of the world's most virulent biological threats, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press."
King Coal makes a comeback in Vermont
From: burlingtonfreepress.com
"EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. - Greg and Rose Pelchuck aren't selling as much colored stone this year. But coal orders have more than made up for it. "
States imposing interest-rate caps to rein in payday lenders
From: online.wsj.com
"The spreading subprime-loan debacle has emboldened some state governments to move aggressively against "payday lenders," outfits that offer high-interest-rate loans to cash-strapped borrowers who pledge to repay them when their next check arrives."
Bill would target taxable coal mining valuation
From: www.billingsgazette.net
"GILLETTE, Wyo. -- A legislative committee will consider a proposal aimed at establishing fixed rates for taxation on coal mining companies for their out-of-pit operations."
Virginia farmland growing in value
From: hosted.ap.org
"The average agricultural acre in Virginia is valued at $5,900, the highest among its neighboring states, according to government statistics."
Baby boomlet in Nebraska expected to continue
From: www.omaha.com
"Coming into the world last Tuesday at 7 pounds, 10 ounces, Elliet Janet Pritchard certainly ranks among the tiniest of Nebraskans."
Casino proposal expected on ballot in Ohio
From: www.post-gazette.com
"Two years after Ohioans rejected legalized casinos in a statewide referendum, it appears they'll have another gambling expansion proposal to vote on Nov. 4."
Casino foes urge halt in licensing
From: www.post-gazette.com
"A statewide anti-casino group is urging state gambling regulators to hold off indefinitely on approvals of new slots licenses and license transfers from one casino owner to another."
Hispanic growth mostly in S. Idaho
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"Most of the growth in the state's Hispanic population took place in southern Idaho last year."
Mines still threaten Colorado River, foes say
From: www.azcentral.com
"Federal officials plan to remove more than 16 million tons of abandoned uranium waste from a mining site on the banks of the Colorado River, but environmental groups warn that new threats of toxic pollution lurk downstream from future mining activity."
Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil
From: seattletimes.nwsource.com
"While Congress and the presidential candidates debate the wisdom of a windfall tax on oil companies, Alaska has already imposed one, hauling in billions of dollars in new revenue for the state treasury.
"
Yahoo hasn't sought state tax help
From: www.omaha.com
"Nebraska's business incentives package allows it to compete successfully for computer data centers and other sought-after business developments, State Tax Commissioner Doug Ewald said."
ABC enforcement director to review policies after incident involving teen
From: www.arkansasnews.com
"Allegations of unlawful conduct by a teenager who was recruited by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division to help with compliance checks may lead to policy changes at the division.
"
Immigration on voters' back burner
From: www.azstarnet.com
"Illegal immigration dominated Arizona's political debate during the 2004 and 2006 election cycles, as voters passed half a dozen ballot measures aimed at toughening immigration enforcement and denying state benefits to illegal immigrants."
Monterey desalination plant approved
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"MONTEREY, Calif. - California's Coastal Commission has approved a plan to build a desalination plant that would provide fresh water for an oceanside development proposed near Monterey's historic Cannery Row."
GOP leader - Cuts alone won't close budget gap
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"Seven years of deficits have left the state budget so far out of balance that a Republican legislative leader is saying that closing a huge budget gap with cuts alone is unworkable."
Governor's pared plan may have slim chance
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made his plan to overhaul health care a top priority, promoting it in numerous news conferences across the state. That plan was defeated this year. Now, with less than a month left in the legislative session, Schwarzenegger administration officials are pushing a scaled-down health plan."
State budget impasse looks poised to worsen
From: www.sfgate.com
"California's budget impasse, which hits Day 42 today, may get a lot worse if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic-controlled Legislature do not reach a compromise in the coming days. Two significant pieces of the budget negotiations that require voter approval will miss the deadline for making the November ballot in about a week, making them no longer viable."
Time may be running out for California to craft budget deal
From: www.sacbee.com
"Ground zero in the state's bitter budget standoff has become the calendar. Mark Saturday, Aug. 16. Republicans who vow not to pass a new state budget unless it contains long-term fixes to chronic budgeting problems see time running out. "
Adult-entertainment tax idea dies in Assembly
From: www.sacbee.com
"Sex is safe - from higher taxes. X-rated entertainment won't be tapped to help solve California's massive budget woes."
Gay divorce has raised many tricky questions
From: www.sacbee.com
"Gay divorces are bringing many new wrinkles to the field of family law, raising questions that are sure to be litigated for years to come. While no one tracks how many gay couples have divorced in Massachusetts, attorneys in the Boston area are competing for cases in the budding cottage industry."
Bill would allow agencies to ban water softeners if salt threatens recycling efforts
From: www.sacbee.com
"The Culligan Man could soon join the Maytag repairman in California, as regional water agencies seek more authority to remove home water softeners if they threaten local water supplies."
Q&A - Tribal lawyer says there's a united front on California gambling
From: www.sacbee.com
"Howard Dickstein is a tribal lawyer who fought major casino expansions that voters approved for four Southern California tribes. He is sounding an alarm over prospects of an initiative to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling by restoring state lottery Keno games."
Scrap metal sellers could be required to provide photo ID, thumbprint
From: www.latimes.com
"Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has a special interest in supporting two state bills aiming to stop the widespread and rampant theft of valuable metals, including copper wiring and pipes."
Settle for Colorado Lottery leftovers? Not a chance
From: www.latimes.com
"A Colorado Springs woman sues to stop the state from selling scratch-off tickets after the top prizes have already been won."
Highway safety campaign gets creative
From: www.delawareonline.com
"Safety officials are taking a new approach to getting Delawareans to lighten up the lead foot on the gas pedal. Earlier billboards statewide focused on the collateral costs of speeding -- mainly the cost of getting caught or getting killed."
Birds, fish may like wind farm just fine
From: www.delawareonline.com
"At his fishing shop near Rehoboth Beach, Bill Baker has heard a good deal of talk about wind beyond the normal hot air generated by fishing tales."
Needy kids get back-to-school boost
From: www.delawareonline.com
"Parents can spend hundreds of dollars on their children's school supplies each year."
General - Guard is ready for disasters
From: www.sun-sentinel.com
"The Florida National Guard is better prepared for hurricanes and other disasters than any time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, its commanding general said last week."
Florida holds 'scary' flu prep test
From: www.miamiherald.com
"More than 100,000 Floridians are dead from avian flu. Up to 16,000 children are now orphans. Mandatory quarantines are in effect for the sick and schools and sporting events are canceled. What should you do? State emergency managers asked themselves that very question Wednesday as they conducted a simulated exercise to prepare for such a possibility."
Today's voters more likely to say 'yes' to ballot measures than those of yesteryear
From: www.orlandosentinel.com
"Florida voters this fall could decide on several ballot proposals that blatantly mix and match public wants and political necessities.
"
Showdown over guns at airport
From: www.ajc.com
"Atlanta squares off against gun rights advocates Monday over whether people with the proper licenses should be able to carry weapons into so-called "nonsecure areas" of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport."
Green energy a tough sell in Georgia
From: www.ajc.com
"Michelle Conlon is a committed renewable energy activist. The Atlanta resident helped start a green power program in Tennessee that generates electricity from the wind and sun. Now she sells solar panels across the Southeast."
Hawaii businesses split on rail transit
From: www.honoluluadvertiser.com
"Hawaii businesses seem to agree something needs to be done to improve public transit and alleviate traffic congestion. What they don't agree on is whether a planned $3.7 billion elevated commuter rail line linking East Kapolei to Ala Moana is the answer."
Officials say Iowa smoking ban working as planned
From: www.qctimes.com
"Officials say the first month of Iowa's statewide smoking ban has gone as planned.
"
E. Idaho landfill violating many state rules
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -- The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has found an array of violations at the Bonneville County landfill."
Idaho urban personal income growth slows
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"Per capital personal income growth in Idaho's five urban areas slowed in 2007, a reflection of a decelerating economy and layoffs at companies such as Micron Technology."
Special session fails to excite lawmakers
From: www.sj-r.com
"Illinois lawmakers are headed back to the Capitol this week, and many are grumbling about another summer special session they see as a waste of time."
Fair revelers enjoy tradition of partying late into the night
From: www.sj-r.com
"By 9 p.m. on weekends, the trail linking the Illinois State Fair parking lot with the carnival midway and wonders beyond is largely a one-way path, with tired-looking faces and yawning children sprinkled heavily in an outward-bound stream.
"
Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposes that disabled veterans not have to pay property tax
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed eliminating property taxes for 16,000 disabled Illinois veterans Sunday and gave the clearest signal to date he wants call lawmakers back to the Capitol to force them to consider potentially dozens of populist issues before the November election."
Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposes that disabled veterans not have to pay property tax
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed eliminating property taxes for 16,000 disabled Illinois veterans Sunday and gave the clearest signal to date he wants call lawmakers back to the Capitol to force them to consider potentially dozens of populist issues before the November election."
Westar rate hearing dates draw criticism
From: www.kansas.com
"State consumer advocates say a new schedule for public comments is short-circuiting people's chances to affect a proposed $177 million rate increase for Westar Energy."
State fair will feature Lincoln exhibits
From: www.kentucky.com
"LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky native son Abraham Lincoln will be honored during the 104th Kentucky State Fair with a display that recognizes his birthplace, rise to the presidency and accomplishments as chief executive."
Gas-price investigation focuses on wholesalers
From: www.courier-journal.com
"Investigators trying to determine why gasoline prices in Louisville run consistently higher than elsewhere in the region are now focusing on wholesalers, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said yesterday."
Kentucky State Fair gets under way Thursday
From: www.courier-journal.com
"Willanna and Lester Steinweg, both past 80, have been entering Kentucky State Fair competitions annually since 1986, vying for ribbons with peaches, apples, cucumbers, eggplants and a dozen or more other foodstuffs they grow at their Jessamine County home."
Farmers markets' popularity on rise across Kentucky
From: www.courier-journal.com
"Maybe it's high gas prices, or this summer's salmonella scare. But Paducah grower Danny Garrett says his produce business selling fresh fruits and vegetables at a roadside store and a local farmers market is up almost double this year."
Oil spill fallout differs by state
From: www.nola.com
"Almost three weeks into the cleanup of hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil spilled in New Orleans' backyard, there has been an atypical silence from Louisiana's political leaders about one of the largest Mississippi River oil spills in a decade."
Jindal says more coastal work possible
From: www.2theadvocate.com
"LAKE CHARLES, La. - The federal government's decision to allow Louisiana more time to pay a share for levee work in the New Orleans area could mean more coastal restoration projects in southwest Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal told a group of business leaders Friday."
Housing slump hitting home
From: www.nola.com
"New Orleans, awash in insurance and federal rebuilding grants after Hurricane Katrina, for many months seemed to resist the relentless decline in real estate prices that afflicted once incandescent markets in California, Florida and Nevada. This year, however, the national malaise has finally started to dampen the local market."
Firm ready to build St. James iron plant
From: www.nola.com
"CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nucor Corp. plans to build a 500-employee iron plant in Convent and wants to break ground in January, as long as Louisiana grants the necessary environmental permits and the Legislature backs an incentives package crafted by the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal, the steelmaker's chief executive officer said."
Breeders, fans lament Louisiana's impending ban on cockfightin
From: www.dallasnews.com
"BATON ROUGE, La. - Gory and bucolic all at once, cockfights have drawn crowds to small-time pits and full-blown arenas in towns around Louisiana for generations. By Friday, they'll be against the law. Everywhere."
Monday Morning Briefing
From: bostonherald.com
"Gov. Deval Patrick still faces a long list of bills to take action on this week, including legislation that would funnel grants to universities aiming to create renewable resources and a $1.7 billion environmental bond bill. Meanwhile, Bay State consumers are getting ready for a spending spree as the tax-free weekend approaches."
Deval Patrick not eager to talk to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe
From: bostonherald.com
"The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which wants to build a $1 billion casino resort, may be in for a long wait before it gets a chance to sit down at the negotiating table with Gov. Deval Patrick."
Study sees $ in gambling, hits adding slots at tracks
From: bostonherald.com
"Will Gov. Deval Patrick roll the dice again with another casino proposal? That is the big question in the wake of last week's release of an administration-commissioned report detailing the state's untapped gambling potential."
501 state workers get free rides
From: bostonherald.com
"Just as Gov. Patrick was close to shaking his "Cadillac Deval" image, his administration has disclosed that more than 500 state employees get to cruise home in gassed-up, state-owned vehicles, among them elevator inspectors, a tree climber and a bridge painter."
Campus housing options scarce
From: www.boston.com
"Returning to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst after a year teaching in China, Vincent Capone, a junior from Winthrop, was counting on a dorm room to save him the hassle, and considerable expense, of living off-campus. Unfortunately, a startling number of his fellow students had the same idea."
Fourth delay in care plan sought
From: www.boston.com
"Federal regulators are balking at the state's proposal to increase Medicaid spending by up to $1 billion a year over the next three years, and this and other sticking points prompted Massachusetts yesterday to request another two-week extension of its healthcare funding package.
"
Leaders nip, tuck healthcare policy
From: www.boston.com
"Governor Deval Patrick yesterday signed into law one of the nation's strictest limits on gifts given to medical professionals by drug salespeople, the most contentious measure contained in a broad package intended to improve healthcare safety and curb skyrocketing costs."
Woman sues state for right to massage horses
From: www.suntimes.com
"DAMASCUS, Md. - Mercedes Clemens is certified to massage humans, but she claims the state of Maryland is keeping her from her first love: Massaging horses."
Wind power firm eyes Maine
From: bangornews.com
"A Boston company that is developing wind turbines capable of operating in deeper waters is eyeing the coast of Maine for a large wind-energy project."
State helps move residents from welfare to work
From: bangornews.com
"Each year, thousands of people move off the state welfare rolls. They find work in professional, technical and management positions, in construction, office work and sales, hospitality and health services, and other job categories available throughout the state. "
'Bottle Bill' update going nowhere in Legislature
From: www.lansingstatejournal.com
"When Marcus Johnson moved back to Lansing from Kentucky this year, one of the first things he noticed was the lack of empty bottles on the street. The 33-year-old is among many who want to see the expansion of Michigan's bottle deposit law to include non-carbonated beverage containers."
Bill would reform property tax
From: www.detnews.com
"Two state lawmakers are proposing a plan that would block a rise in a property's taxable value when its state equalized value decreases."
Where the competition is stiff but sweet
From: www.nytimes.com
"SANDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. -The pies wait. So do the cookies and cupcakes, the doughnuts and the sweet rolls, the yeast breads and quick breads and breads made with fruit."
Governor's race quickly heats up between Hulshof, Nixon
From: www.kansascity.com
"It's been less than a week since the primary election, but the fall campaign for governor is already as hot as summer asphalt on a city street."
Group wants to promote tourism in rural Louisiana, Mississippi
From: www.thenewsstar.com
"VICKSBURG, Miss. - A group of tourism officials will meet this week to come up with ideas to promote rural areas in Mississippi and Louisiana."
Tax-flee day
From: www.sunherald.com
"Sales tax holidays have failed in the Mississippi Legislature so far, but three neighboring states have their own tax-free shopping days, which one legislator believes are causing many locals to buy out of state."
Fuel prices may be part of interest in dorm life
From: www.clarionledger.com
"The University of Southern Mississippi will keep open a residence hall it had planned to close. And Mississippi State University has taken rooms once reserved for overnight renters and filled them with students."
State negotiations shed light on federal talks
From: www.helenair.com
"GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- As Plum Creek Timber repositions itself as a real estate company, it is working with the state of Montana to expand its logging road easements, so it can bring improved access and underground utilities to land that it can later subdivide into rural communities."
Crow coal-to-liquids plant could be boon for Mont.
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"CROW AGENCY, Mont. -- A $7 billion coal-to-liquids plant proposed for southeastern Montana's Crow reservation promises an economic boon for the region, but must first overcome economic and political hurdles that have kept any such plant from being built in the United States."
State watchdog group - fault for mess is is solely Chowan's
From: hamptonroads.com
"EDENTON, N.C. - The state's Local Government Commission says it reviewed Chowan County's audits annually but did not have the authority to tell the county whether it could transfer funds from one account to another to pay its bills."
Lottery pitches tickets at ballparks
From: www.news-record.com
"The N.C. Education Lottery has made a pitch to broaden its fan base, but a group opposed to the lottery says the effort is off base."
Nebraska drug assist programs need reassessment
From: www.journalstar.com
"Several years ago, a 42-year-old Nebraska woman received a bowel transplant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center."
Lawmakers plan heating oil assistance
From: www.theunionleader.com
"The wheels are turning for special legislation this fall to address the home-heating crisis high oil prices have created."
Buses - Commuters taken for a ride?
From: www.theunionleader.com
"Two transportation companies -- one a bus company, the other an airport shuttle service -- are critical of how the state fashioned a contract that will begin delivering millions in subsidies to a competitor this fall."
State steps in to aid Gorham mill
From: www.cmonitor.com
"The state will lay out a $1 million grant to help the Gorham Paper Mill buy a biomass boiler that will allow the last paper mill in Coos County to slice its use of oil and - officials hope - turn operating deficits into profits."
N.H. part of UBS securities settlement
From: www.cmonitor.com
"New Hampshire is part of a settlement with Swiss bank UBS AG on a kind of security commonly used to raise money for student loans, but the state's top securities regulator said it wasn't clear yesterday whether the deal would get loans flowing normally again."
Power plant fixes will cost ratepayers more
From: www.cmonitor.com
"A state-mandated update to a coal power plant in Bow will cost Public Service of New Hampshire and its ratepayers far more than expected."
Beach barriers slow to ebb
From: www.philly.com
"BAY HEAD, N.J. -- New Jersey has a history of treating parts of the Shore as the private sandbox of a privileged few."
Corzine appeals Katz e-mail ruling
From: www.nj.com
"Lawyers for Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday appealed a judge's order to release e-mails the governor and his staff exchanged with a union leader he once dated."
In infancy, health sciences stumbling
From: www.lasvegassun.com
"This is the dream: To alleviate the state's shortage of health professionals, Nevada's public colleges and Desert Research Institute will pool their resources into a "health sciences system," sharing laboratories and teachers and collaborating on research."
New York State Fair an 'affordable venue' for Rochester-area families
From: www.democratandchronicle.com
"Organizers of the New York State Fair say the 12-day event is an affordable option for families.
"
Paterson veto kills bill to add Pilgrim land to preserve
From: www.newsday.com
"Gov. David A. Paterson has used his veto pen to declare a timeout in the controversy over a truck-rail yard on Pilgrim State Hospital land in Brentwood, killing legislation that would have made it part of the Oak Brush Plain State Preserve instead."
Raking in the big bucks
From: www.timesunion.com
"If you work for New York state and make $100,000 or more, you have lots of company. At least 20,000 state employees reached or exceeded six-digit compensation, according to a Times Union examination of pay records for 2007 for nearly 375,000 state and public authority employees. The review included overtime paid to more than 125,000 people"
State Senate OKs school tax cap; Assembly awaits
From: www.newsday.com
"The State Senate Friday adopted Gov. David A. Paterson's controversial 4 percent cap on yearly increases in school property taxes, though its fate in the Assembly remains uncertain.
"
Candidate hunt blurs the lines
From: www.timesunion.com
"The recently appointed chairman of Empire State Development Corp., Robert Wilmers, spends most of his time in a corner office at the Buffalo head- quarters of M&T Bank, where he is the financial giant's leader. Perhaps that's why he's using M&T's human resources operation to find the public officials who will be running the state's economic development arm."
Working (and working) for a living
From: www.timesunion.com
"According to a Times Union review of 375,000 state and public authority salaries, a third get overtime."
Time runs short for compromise on sick-day issue
From: blog.cleveland.com
"Gov. Ted Strickland says a deal must be struck next week or a sick-day proposal that could harm Ohio's business climate will end up on the November election ballot."
Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water?
From: www.oregonlive.com
"When parched Southwest states recently considered ways they might bring more water to the overtaxed Colorado River, they imagined snaking a fiberglass straw up the Pacific coast and sipping from the Columbia River. That's probably a pipe dream, but it's also a recurring vision the drenched Northwest might not want to laugh off forever."
Ex-W.Va. sheriff seeks reason for ban at MTR casinos
From: www.pittsburghlive.com
"Sitting at a corner table, drinking coffee, wearing a tan golf shirt and brown loafers, Ted Dragisich hardly seems dangerous. But Pennsylvania gambling regulators see the former Hancock County, W.Va., sheriff differently. To them, he's a menace."
Bluhm, Pa. differ on casino revenue guesses
From: www.post-gazette.com
"The group headed by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm is betting big on the Pittsburgh casino, but not as big as state regulators."
Rising costs put brakes on plans for road repairs
From: www.post-gazette.com
"Local road and bridge projects are falling victim to soaring prices for energy and construction materials. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials have estimated they'll need to come up with an unbudgeted $9.2 million just in the local engineering district for automatic price adjustments built into highway construction contracts."
Targeted kennel gets more scrutiny
From: www.philly.com
"The state Attorney General's Office is investigating whether a Lancaster County kennel operator -- one of the largest dog sellers in the state and the focus of legal action dating back almost two decades -- has violated a 2005 court-ordered consent petition."
Lynch opposes reimbursing paint companies
From: www.projo.com
"Three paint companies want to be reimbursed for the costs of defending against a public-nuisance lawsuit filed by the state, but Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch is opposing that in court."
Benefit raises $23,000 for aid of arrested immigrants
From: www.projo.com
"Cindy Cabrera expects to lose her father. The 17-year-old soon-to-be high school senior isn't usually a pessimist. But in this case, she says it's easier to expect the worst."
State agencies pare spending
From: www.charleston.net
"Some South Carolina government agencies have frozen hiring and made other spending cuts as officials try to save money because a weak economy has sapped state tax collections."
State promotion to 'eat local' doesn't drum up a lot of local business, but that's OK, farmers say
From: www.beaufortgazette.com
"Shrimp, rice, okra, a few peppers and vegetables for a side salad: all ingredients are available less than 100 miles from Beaufort and that is something a state department wants residents to know. "
Farm Bill meetings continue
From: www.rapidcityjournal.com
"The head of the Farm Service Agency in South Dakota says farmers and ranchers who are attending a series of meetings on the new Farm Bill are most interested in ongoing disaster programs."
Physician ratings expected to be public in September
From: www.timesfreepress.com
"Tennessee doctors have until the end of August to review individual cost and quality information about their practices - data that BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee compiled from billing records and plans to make public in mid-September."
State switchgrass program sprouts its share of critics
From: www.tennessean.com
"Southwest of Knoxville, a new crop is pushing up through the earth on hundreds of acres of farmland. Switchgrass, a native grass that once blanketed the U.S. heartland, is Tennessee's latest agricultural product, one that Gov. Phil Bredesen hopes will one day fuel an entirely new industry."
Agency rejects fence deal, braces for lawsuit
From: www.mysanantonio.com
"The thick tangle of brush on both sides of the Rio Grande levee at the Anacua segment of Texas Parks and Wildlife's Las Palomas preserve may not look like much, but to biologist Steve Benn, the clumping of native huisache, hackberry and tepeguaje is priceless."
Texas airports prepare to cut services as fuel prices rise
From: www.chron.com
"From his office overlooking the runways of one of the nation's busiest airports, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Chief Executive Jeffrey Fegan sees the slowdown coming this fall."
Political hopefuls love one city ZIP
From: www.chron.com
"There's money in Montrose. Seabrook has spacious rooms. Alief has its share of activists. But when presidents, vice presidents and presidential candidates want to raise campaign money in private receptions in Houston, they inevitably drag their bank sacks through the swankiendas of that inner-city Camelot of consumption, River Oaks."
Texans may have to register as lobbyists to spend money on speaker's race
From: www.statesman.com
"Texans can spend money to influence the election of the next speaker of the Texas House, the state argued in federal court Friday, but they might have to register as lobbyists."
Student aid requests soar as economy plummets
From: www.sfgate.com
"Record numbers of college students are lining up for financial aid - and asking for more of it - as the nation's economic woes hit campuses across the country."
Officials concerned over pre-emption proposal
From: bangornews.com
"State regulatory officials, Attorney General Steven Rowe, and members of Maine's congressional delegation are warning that proposals before Congress would pre-empt state regulation of insurance and financial institutions and leave consumers with fewer protections."
Gay marriage - Bitter battle over, couples find acceptance
From: www.sacbee.com
"While gay marriage is firmly entrenched in Massachusetts, gay activists in the Bay State say the future of the movement nationally could well depend on what happens in California."
Economy threatens tax holidays
From: www.macon.com
"Thousands of shoppers have been flocking to malls in more than a dozen states for back-to-school sales tax holidays, buying millions of dollars worth of clothes and school supplies - and depriving states of much-needed revenue."
Critics seek halt to state sales tax holidays amid lousy economy; some say families need them
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"ATLANTA - Thousands of shoppers have been flocking to malls in more than a dozen states for back-to-school sales tax holidays, buying millions of dollars worth of clothes and school supplies - and depriving states of much-needed revenue."
States mandate 'culturally competent' health care
From: www.usatoday.com
"ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - When a doctor doesn't look an Asian-American patient in the eye, that might be seen as a sign of respect. But making eye contact is encouraged with black patients, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which has published a guidebook for culturally competent care.
"
Short week spurs some long faces
From: deseretnews.com
"SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah -- Not everyone was ready for the first Friday closures under Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s new four-day work week, especially at the Division of Motor Vehicles."
How will oil-shale development affect Utah's parks and recreation areas?
From: deseretnews.com
"Utah is world famous for its tourist destinations -- Bryce, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands national parks, its western desert or share of Lake Powell, Desolation Canyon and the Green River and on and on. In remote areas, particularly in eastern Utah, visitors can easily and often see the constant nodding up and down of oil derricks, which to some may even be an appealing part of the Western experience."
Will oil shale turn into a boon or environmental mess?
From: deseretnews.com
"Utah has renewed its love affair with at least the idea of going after vast amounts of oil shale and tar sands. So, a big part of the discussions have become how it can be done here in an environmentally friendly way."
State's nuclear oversight could face new challenge
From: www.timesargus.com
"When Vermont lawmakers debate whether the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant should be allowed to extend its license beyond 2012, they might want to avoid the S-word."
Commerce Department vacancy at crucial time as state seeks leadership in faltering economy
From: www.lacrossetribune.com
"With the abrupt resignation of secretary Jack Fischer last month, the state Department of Commerce is looking for its fourth leader in four years - and at a critical time for the state."
Governors want training flexibility
From: wvgazette.com
"WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Southern governors want flexibility to use federal dollars to train workers - and like the idea of using their community colleges to produce much of that training, they said Saturday at their annual conference."
Lawyer says legal climate not hurting business
From: www.register-herald.com
"Beckley attorney Thomas Rist feels the legal profession is taking an unfair shellacking by special interest groups that blame lawyers for West Virginia's dead-last ranking by Forbes magazine in doing business."
West Virginia almost a UFO heaven?
From: www.register-herald.com
"West Virginia prides itself as a land of majestic mountains, sparkling streams, coal to feed hungry power plants, a unique place in American history and a fiercely independent people accustomed to overcoming hard times with a resiliency unrivaled by anyone else."
W.Va. 2 may go to four lanes
From: www.theintelligencer.net
"WHEELING, W.Va - Economic growth is the main reason Charles H. Clements wants to see W.Va. 2 expanded to a four-lane highway from Parkersburg in the south to Chester in the north."
Breeders receive millions from W.Va. gambling
From: www.dailymail.com
"Greyhound and horse breeders are reaping the spoils of gambling in West Virginia."
State to collect unpaid jail bills
From: www.dailymail.com
"Facing an aging jail system and other costs, the state Regional Jail Authority is beginning a campaign to start collecting major debt that counties, cities and federal agencies owe for housing inmates."
Wheeling lawyer gives back to WVU
From: www.dailymail.com
"The man who helped wring $4 million out of Rich Rodriguez and the University of Michigan looks at the coach's contract dispute a little differently than some other people."
Gov. appoints Sheridan engineer
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"Gov. Dave Freudenthal has appointed a Sheridan engineer to head a nonprofit organization dedicated to planning for growth and development in Wyoming while preserving the state's natural resources and character."
Groups -- Coal-to-liquids plant would degrade Wyo's air quality
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"A plan to capture carbon dioxide by gasifying Wyoming coal for liquid fuels has drawn praise in regard to global warming and taking a step toward weaning the nation off foreign oil."
WORTH NOTING: Michigan billed for woman's gas
From: www.stateline.org
"
A woman wants Michigan to pay for gas wasted in stalled traffic. A Nebraska judge considers whether the Almighty can be sued. And a Democrat-sponsored Web site claims Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) is the worst of the worst. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
"
States curb carbon as blueprint for feds
From: www.stateline.org
"An effort by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to focus Southern governors on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their states is the latest example of state-led policies that could be used as models for future federal action."
Three states reconsider affirmative action
From: www.stateline.org
"
In a year when voters could elect the country’s first African-American president, three states also will decide on a controversial ballot measure that would end the use of affirmative action in college admissions and government contracting."
States adopt bold anti-poverty measures
From: www.stateline.org
"At least 15 states have declared war on poverty, launching broad, high-profile campaigns aimed at rooting out the causes of poverty and alleviating its effects on children."
2008 state-by-state summary
From: www.stateline.org
"
(Updated 11:15 a.m. EDT, Aug. 6, 2008)
Here’s
Stateline.org's state-by-state rundown of significant legislative action in 2008."
Anti-tax activists again watch Colorado
From: www.stateline.org
"
Colorado voters may get to decide this November whether to ditch for good their strictest-in-the-nation state spending cap that returned extra revenue to taxpayers, while voters in Massachusetts will consider killing the state income tax."
Watch your (official) language
From: www.stateline.org
"Missouri, a key presidential swing state and home to one of the most hotly contested gubernatorial races, will test what some see as voters’ attitudes toward immigrants with a ballot measure to make English the only language of state government."
Louisiana touts its offshore oil drilling
From: www.stateline.org
"
NEW ORLEANS — While states on the east and west coast debate whether to drill for offshore oil and natural gas, Louisiana and three other Gulf Coast states hold up their offshore drilling operations as proof that they can produce oil and gas without hurting the environment.
"
Great Lakes states protect their water
From: www.stateline.org
"Congress begins work Wednesday (July 30) on the Great Lakes Compact, an agreement among eight states designed to preserve their drinking water and promote shipping, electric power and tourism by restricting water diversion from the lakes."
Jobs are at risk if Congress doesn't fix the Highway Fund
From: www.stateline.org
"State budgets and nearly 400,000 jobs are at risk if Congress fails to replenish the Highway Trust Fund, John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, writes in a commentary for
Stateline.org."
The economic downturn: an opportunity for governors?
From: www.stateline.org
"Most governors recognize that they have the best political job in America. Most also would concede that the job is more satisfying when the economy is strong and revenues are growing than during an economic downturn, when cutting budgets becomes the major task. But even a recession can present opportunities for governors to make improvements that yield lasting benefits for their states."
Visit the Stateline.org Economy & Business Page
From: www.stateline.org
"Most governors recognize that they have the best political job in America. Most also would concede that the job is more satisfying when the economy is strong and revenues are growing than during an economic downturn, when cutting budgets becomes the major task. But even a recession can present opportunities for governors to make improvements that yield lasting benefits for their states."
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